Controlled by Choices

Chapter 1

As the blinding fluorescent white light shone onto her eyes, fear was the first sensation she had experienced. She had arisen from the box which contained her, confused at her empty surroundings. The robot was in a padded white room with one security camera looking over her. Nothing was appealing to the senses, and all seemed bland.

"Sir, the experiment was a success."

"We can't be so sure yet," Another man behind the glass replied. "We've successfully brought it to life. We aren't certain if she will be up to our expectations." Both of them looked into the window, waiting to observe more.

The pallid man across her just sat in a chair, not knowing how to act. Grinning at the robotic lady, he displayed pearly whites. They contradicted his ragged curls. The robot would be lying if she claimed she wasn't frightened at the sight of this individual. When she glanced at his dead blue eyes, she immediately put her hands over her face and looked away.

The man was already panicking, and his mind shut off. This man's first instinct was to tremble and flap around his hands to alleviate the stress he was going through. He began to overthink this far too much. Was his figure too bulky? Or maybe the red he dyed at the tips didn't match his black hair well. He started to shake at the thought that his teeth were unpresentable.

One of the men watching from outside the room saw this occurrence before his eyes, and he wasn't happy about it. He banged on the glass before yelling through it. "Control yourself, Finch! You have to deal with your life! There is no need to be squirming around over anything or anyone. Do something!"

The man, presumably Mr. Finch, readjusted his glasses and calmed down. He knew what he had to do now. He walked up to the already frightened android and gently spoke to her. "It's ok, nobody here is going to hurt you," he said, looking at her in the eyes.

The robotic lady became a bit more trusting, but she was still a bit doubtful. Why was this man being so nice to her? There was no need for him to do such a thing. He was flesh and bones. She was only pure scraps and metal. He could've treated her like some trash. He could've seen her like a mere plaything, but no. He didn't place a finger on her.

"I'm here to help you," he replied. "You're capable of so much. You can trust that I won't harm you."

The robotic lady got out of hiding in her box and extended her hand at Mr. Finch. He grasped her hand and made sure she could step out with ease. Her feet were finally brushing against the cushioned ground.

After she was out, the lady tried exploring the empty white room. There wasn't much she could see, but she still felt that it was worth looking for something. After being unable to find the environment, she looked at Mr. Finch with a raised eyebrow. He put his hand on the robotic lady's shoulders, and with his other hand, James ran his hands on one of her pigtails.

"You, my precious one, are NANCY. You may be a robot, but I know very well how much of a heart you have. You have come from one of the stars placed amongst the darkness of night. They picked that star to transfigure into you. You'll accomplish phenomenal things and experience so much. Welcome to the world, NANCY."

While hearing Mr. Finch's words, NANCY could feel her system slowly warming up. There was a feeling she had, but NANCY couldn't quite grasp what it was. She clasped her chest, feeling a confusing thump in it. Mr. Finch immediately took note of this.

"This is your heartbeat," He signaled toward her chest. "This is what signifies your livelihood."

She looked at Mr. Finch's tired eyes and smiled. She didn't say a word but wished to spill her thoughts. NANCY realized that his heartbeat gave him life. Both of them were alive. The one that belonged to her seemed to get quicker by the moment. It was as if he was the one who made her feel even more alive. If a heartbeat determined that, he would be her life, and he would be her closure. She wouldn't have it any other way. She felt safe now. She felt complete.